NC State Baseball
#10 NC State Earns Sweep at No. 2 Clemson with 5-4 Win
CLEMSON, S.C. – The NC State baseball team completed the program’s first-ever sweep at Clemson Sunday afternoon, as the 10th-ranked Wolfpack turned away the second-ranked Tigers with a 5-4 win in the series finale at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Sophomore Will Wilson recorded his first career multi-home run game, headlined by the go-ahead homer in the eighth and Joe O’Donnell earned the win on the mound with three scoreless innings of relief.
NC State moves to 18-3 on the year and 5-1 in ACC play, while Clemson falls to 16-4 and 3-3 in conference action.
Avent’s Additions
“I think we’re playing extremely well right now,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “We just continue to go about our business and we don’t get too high or too low whether we’re ahead or behind.
“It’s great to watch our team play right now, a lot of people are stepping up. [Kent] Klyman came in and gave us some momentum and then Will [Wilson] gets the big hit and Joe O’Donnell was really good.
“Clemson’s a very good team and awfully tough at home. They have a very dangerous lineup and I thought our pitching staff and Coach Foxhall did a tremendous job all weekend.”
Quick Hits
– For the second time in the series, NC State struck first with a solo home run in the top of the first.
– Wilson launched the second pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall for his fifth home run of the year, giving the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead.
– Clemson responded with a run in the bottom of the frame on a solo homer from Logan Davidson and two in the second to take a 3-1 advantage.
– The Wolfpack answered in the top of the third with a pair of runs to even the score at three, after a two-run homer from Josh McLain, his second of the year.
– The Tigers capitalized on a miscue by NC State to pull ahead 4-3 with an unearned run in the fourth.
– From there, it was all NC State as the Wolfpack scored in the sixth and eighth inning and did not allow another Clemson runner to get past first base.
– Wilson walked and scored in the sixth before leaving the yard for the second time on the day with a solo shot in the eighth, giving NC State a 5-4 lead on his sixth homer of the season.
– He finished the series with a .500 batting average, six hits, four RBI and four runs.
Will Wilson Go-Ahead Home Run in the Eighth
Game Notes
– NC State earned its first-ever sweep in Clemson and its first sweep against the Tigers since 1997 when the Wolfpack accomplished the feat in Raleigh.
– Wilson extended his reached base safely streak to 36 games in the contest, dating back to last season.
– NCSU outscored Clemson, 15-5, during the series and only allowed three extra-base hits and they all came in today’s game.
– The Wolfpack hit three home runs in the game to rank second in the NCAA with 38 on the year.
– NC State is now 9-1 on the year when hitting more than one homer in a game.
Up Next
NC State is back in action next weekend when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets visit Doak Field at Dail Park for a three-game series. Friday’s game is set for 6:30 p.m.
#20 NC State upset #7 Florida St. 8-7 in the series opener down in Tallahassee this evening.
Freshman Cooper Consiglio was the hero on the mound this evening, coming in after Senior Sam Highfill and Sophomore Shane Van Dam, pitching 4.1 innings, while giving up only 1 earned run and striking out 5. It was probably Consiglio’s best performance of his collegiate career, marking the first time he’s ever pitched 4 innings, and given up 1 run or less. He now is 2-4 on the year with a 5.66 ERA.
Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his 4th Save of the year, failing to give up a hit in 1.2 innings pitched, while striking out 3.
Left them loaded! @DrockSmith22 strikes out Fisher to leave the bases loaded in the eighth!#Pack9 pic.twitter.com/ZxrysbIJVI
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 4, 2024
Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart got things started off for the Wolfpack in the Top of the 2nd hitting his 9th Home Run in the past 9 games, and his 15th of the year.
Sophomore 2nd Baseman Matt Heavner led the Pack with 2 RBI’s tonight. The first followed Cozart’s bomb, hitting a Single in the Top of the 2nd that scored Sophomore Left Fielder Luke Nixon. Then Junior Chase Nixon hit a Single, and 2 NC State runners scored due to a wild throw.
In play, runs ➕2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/jb5gAAs727
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 3, 2024
Then in the Top of the 3rd, Heavner knocked in another run with a Sac Bunt, that scored Luke Nixon.
Small Ball™️ pic.twitter.com/4U61oxRbE5
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 3, 2024
Then Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit an RBI Single that scored Chase Nixon, giving the Wolfpack a 6-2 lead.
In the Top of the 6th, Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit a solo Home Run, his 18th of the season.
SEE. YOU. LATER. ✌️.#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/muKGGbkEqJ
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 4, 2024
In the same inning, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth scored on a wild pitch, giving the Wolfpack their 8th run of the evening.
Senior starting Pitcher Sam Highfill was only able to pitch 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs. Sophomore Shane Van Dam continues to struggle in relief, giving up 3 earned runs in 1 inning. His ERA is now up to 5.17. Van Dam left the game with an injury, which might have led to his exit.
The Wolfpack and the Seminoles will play Game 2 tomorrow at 7pm.
#20 NC State will head down to Tallahassee tomorrow for a 3-game series against #7 FSU. Before they do, here’s a look at where NC State is projected to land in the 2024 NCAA Tournament as things currently stand.
Last week, both D1Baseball and Baseball America projected the Wolfpack to play as a #2 seed in the Greenville Regional (ECU), with the former projecting the Pirates to be a #6 seed, and the latter projecting them to be a #8 seed.
This week, D1Baseball has NC State as a #2 seed in the Lexington Regional, with Kentucky as a #5 seed. Baseball America still has the Wolfpack as a #2 seed in the Greenville Region, with the Pirates still sitting as a #8 seed.
D1Baseball
Baseball America
#20 NC State lost to UNC-Wilmington 4-5 this evening at home, losing their 5th straight midweek game. The Wolfpack were swept by the Seahawks this year, ironically losing 4-5 down in Wilmington on April 9th.
Freshman Ryan Marohn got the starting nod, and he was excellent, giving up 1 earned run in 5 innings pitched, striking out 7. It was arguably his best start since his collegiate debut against VCU in the opening series.
Sophomore Shane Van Dam was Mr. Reliable through much of the season, but he hasn’t had his best stuff as of late. This evening, he faced four batters, hitting 2, walking another, and surrendering a hit to the other. Van Dam failed to record an out, and gave up 3 earned runs. Heading into the UNC game back on April 18th, Van Dam had a 2.63 ERA. After the past 4 appearances, his ERA has shot up to 3.96.
Freshman Jacob Dudan settled things down, pitching 4 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, while striking out 5.
Unfortunately, Sophomore Derrick Smith allowed the Seahawks to score a run in the Top of the 10th, which was enough for the opposing team to leave Raleigh with a win, with NC State failing to score a run in the final 5 frames.
Junior Jacob Cozart continues an insane power surge, hitting two more Home Runs tonight. Cozart has hit 7 Home Runs in the past 6 games.
*Scheduled tweet* pic.twitter.com/eHvyuGT6so
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
SCOREBOARD SHOT 🚀 pic.twitter.com/tMvY8imzgG
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
Cozart now has 14 Home Runs on the year. His previous career high was 11.
Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington also hit a Solo Home Run, his 11th bomb of the year.
Goodbye Baseball ✌️#Pack9 | @Garrettpenn14 pic.twitter.com/p0tySYt3aF
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
On Friday, the Wolfpack will head down to Tallahassee for a 3-game series against #7 Florida State.
